Raw Cranberry Chocolate Slices

Recently I've been really enjoying getting into raw baking and experimenting with different flavour combinations. Baking has never been my strong point - I much prefer cooking (and I'm much better at it, too!). However, since leading a more plant-based lifestyle, I've really gotten into baking healthy goodies that are refined-sugar and dairy free, so I've got something prepared for when the sweet cravings strike (which happens most days!).

Raw Cranberry Chocolate Slices

This weekend I made these delicious and indulgent chocolate slices... I say indulgent because they taste super rich and delicious, but they're made mainly from seeds, nuts and dried fruit - so they're totally guilt-free.

You can adapt the recipe easily if you'd prefer it to be nut-free (just replace the walnuts and ground almonds with more seeds), and you can use different dried fruit (e.g. dried apricots, coconut shreds or dried mango) depending on what you prefer.

1) Place the dates, mixed seeds (reserve 1 tbsp for the topping), cacao powder, ground almonds, 3 tbsp of goji berries, dessicated coconut and cinnamon in a food processor and pulse a few times until the mixture is coarse.

2) Melt the coconut oil over a gentle heat, then add to the food processor.

3) Process the ingredients until it forms a firm paste.

4)Line a cake tin with baking paper and spoon the mixture in, pressing down firmly to completely fill the tin.

5) Sprinkle over the reserved seeds, cranberries, walnuts, and remaining 1 tbsp goji berries, and press them into the mixture firmly.

6) Place in the fridge for at least three hours to firm up.

Tip: Make sure you press the toppings firmly into the mixture, otherwise they'll just fall off when you try to cut it into slices!